Megadeth: Three New Songs Tracked for Next Album

According to Blabbermouth, Megadeth have resumed work on their fourteenth studio album with producer Johnny K (full name John Karkazis), who has previously worked with Disturbed, Sevendust, Machine Head and Staind.The band's upcoming CD (which recently was placed 4th in our list of Top 10 Most Anticipated Albums of 2013) is currently being recorded at Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California and is set for an early 2013 release via an as-yet-undisclosed label following the band's recent split with Roadrunner Records.In a tweet earlier this week, Mustaine wrote:

Three songs tracked and almost done. New Megadeth music is coming to getcha! Merry Christmas everybody!

Megadeth frontman previously told NME about the direction of band's new material:"Some of it's a little darker, some of it's a little faster. Being in this position right now, not knowing where we're gonna go or what we're gonna do, it's kind of like the world's ours to do what we want. Are we gonna go back to the speed and thrash metal roots that made us who we are? Are we gonna experiment and rely on the melody that we've discovered in Megadeth songs?"Mustaine also spoke about how he likes to keep Megadeth's music more melodic than that of most thrash bands:"We've tried to do that in Megadeth, have a little melody so that it's not just the same old grinding music like everybody else has," he said. "We're just happy to get going and get to the studio."Johnny K produced Megadeth's last album, 2011's 'TH1RT3EN', which was also recorded at Vic's Garage. Mustaine previously stated about the recording process for 'TH1RT3EN':"We've got a great new partner with Johnny K. I mean, I was satisfied with our last co-producer, with Andy Sneap, and Andy really took us and he even admits as far as he could take us, and it was great because we wanted to go back to the big leagues where we were, and we feel that Johnny is, obviously, a big-league producer; not that Andy isn't don't get me wrong. But we feel that this record is definitely one of our best. It's a great feeling, because, you know, finishing some of the last record, I can honestly say, in my heart I knew that it wouldn't contend with some of the great records in the past, just because of the timing, the label that we were on and stuff like that. Lineup changes and stuff But I really think that everything just lined up for this record."'TH1RT3EN' sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD marked the recorded return of bassist David Ellefson who was part of the band's classic lineup from 1983 to 2002. In a move that delighted the band's legion of diehards, Ellefson returned to performing live with Megadeth in early 2010 and has remained a fixture on the stage ever since. This was the first time Ellefson has played on a Megadeth record since 2002's 'Rude Awakening'.Are you excited about the new Megadeth record? What's it going to be in terms of music and lyrics? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Except Thirteen was pretty dull compared to Endgame, didn't have the same crisp sound quality and songwriting that actually caught your attention as a listener. Besides, there are way better thrash bands still putting out records, like Testament, Exodus, Overkill, Anthrax and Kreator, even newer ones like Lazarus A.D. and Revocation.

It has nothing to do with opinions. In such terms as originality and diversity, the level of musicianship in Megadeth's music is objectively superior to most of the bands you stated, whichwith the exception of Revocationplay mostly generic Thrash. That's why you know nothing.

Given that Megadeth's discography is indeed somewhat more diverse than say Testament and Anthrax, to say that they are "objectively" inferior to Megadeth is ignorant. Some people like what you define as "generic Thrash". Well that's your opinion (and there is no "objective" opinion, there just isn't) but I, and I dare to say a lot of other people here equally enjoy pretty much any Thrash band, be it more "generic" like Metallica or Testament or somewhat more "diverse" as Megadeth.

Excuse me? Testament, Exodus and Overkill more diverse than Megadeth? Anthrax I understand that they collaborated with Public Enemy, so they're probably more diverse. But Megadeth made an electronic pop-rock album! I don't see Testament, Exodus or Overkill doing anything like that.
Yeah, I'm just joking.

maybe "musically" but I wouldn't consider "countdown" anywhere near thrash metal. It was a rock/pop record. Their first 4 were the real deal though. But Thrash-wise the bands he mentioned were a lot better than the last several Megadeth records.

Testament has always been right next to Megadeth in terms of songwriting, technicality, and diversity, and I would argue that they have been far more consistent than Mustaine and co. Exodus has never been just straight up thrash, listening to any of their newer albums or Fabulous Disaster proves that, Anthrax was constantly improving upon their sound, leading up to Persistence of Time, which is easily as if not more complex than anything Megadeth, or really any Progressive thinking Thrash band, has ever done. Who know's nothing again?

Yeah, I'd say Megadeth and Testament are way up there with Megadeth being the one-hit-wonder (actually 6) and Testament being more consistent. I wouldn't say just as diverse though, as Megadeth went one step further (electronic pop).
Exodus WAS straight up thrash right up to Fabulous Disaster when they sound like AC/DC sped up. Their new albums are a disgrace.

Actually i'm pretty sure Kreator eats megadeth for breakfast and shits out metallica man. im sorry but there's only about 4 or 5 really great megadeth tracks that i can think of right now, Kreator on the other hand... but that's not the point. you really shouldn't tell someone that their choice in music is in anyway inferior.

13 was half-assed, and even Mustaine admits that. Endgame got me back into Megadeth (not that I really needed it,but you know what I mean). Also, if we are talking about how good the guys in these bands are, Testament and Megadeth are somewhat on par with one another. Chuck is a much better vocalist than Dave - no real contest there. Eric Peterson has some very awesome riffs, but so does Mustaine. Skolnick is... well, Alex-fu*king-Skolnick! Crhis Broderick is...well, Chris Fu*king Broderick! Ellefon has more classic riffs I suppose, but Testament had Greg Christianson, and ****ing Steve Digiorgio man! Testmant's drummer line up clearly destroys the Medageth drummer line up though.

I feel quite the opposite. I though Endgame was too, for lack of a better word, "robotic". Not just Chris shredding over every song, but the overall sound of it. Not saying I didn't enjoy it, just stating that I enjoyed Th1rt3en more.

I've been a Megadeth fan since about 1989 and I completely agree that their discography got pretty weak for a while. I can barely listen to anything from Youthanasia until United Abominations. I'm still excited about their next record though. The last few (Yes, even Thirteen) have really proven that Megadeth are still capable of writing some killer music.

My first thought after this was, "what about Overkill?" I'm not certain about the exact timing of all their records, but they're pretty consistent and prolific. I don't mean to take anything away from Megadeth, but Overkill have been and continue to be criminally underrated. I think it's probably Blitz' voice that polarizes people, but that's what they used to say about Dave's voice, too.

Thirteen was alright at best. Endgame while not being all that much better was still a better album. If we get a couple more songs like "This day we fight" then I'll be happy. The days of Dave releasing an album full of that kind of material are long gone but a return with more tracks of that style would be greatly appreciated.

Well, i really have no reason to go in here and post something negative - i just really feel like it.
I really don't care. More Megadeth. Hurray - seems to be the sacred cow of the interwebz-metal-culture. Never did much for me. Furthermore, Mustaine is pretty darn reprehensible human being and i would never in a million years put money in his pocket by buying his albums.
I feel them downvotes acomin'. Each to their own, i s'pose.

If you were to base a band's music on the reprehensible or non-reprehensible qualities of the musicians in the band, then 99% of bands out there are not worth your money. Also, for the record, Mustaine is probably a better human being in terms of his morality than most rock stars. (He just needs to keep his damn mouth shut and sing.)

I agree totally. Personally I agree with Mustaine on his political and religious views, but he does need to keep his mouth shut at concerts. It's okay to have opinions but people pay to hear songs not political rants.

Megadeth is like Metallica for me now. I will always check out their new releases because I have this deep rooted hope that it'll somehow be a return to their early glory, but I'm almost always let down. The only Megadeth album from this decade that I personally liked was The System Has Failed. I think it was the addition of those Chris Poland solos.

[quote="Dave Mustaine"]we feel that this record is definitely one of our best.[/quote]
He's literally said that with every new album since The World Needs a Hero . And we all know what a steaming wad of excrement that was.

i put it this way the last sick megadeth album was countdown or youthanasia, but the last good album was endgame 13 was good but just over average, i think broderick hasnt gotten much of a chance though because endgame mostly everyhting was already written without him and 13 it was a record where they only got 7 weeks to record the album and track it, if megadeth takes their time like it seems like they are i think itll turn out to be their best record of the 21st century i personall ylike blackmail the universe but i think this will be their best record so far because broderick will get time to work with mustaine for the 1st time

"Are we gonna go back to the speed and thrash metal roots that made us who we are? Are we gonna experiment and rely on the melody that we've discovered in Megadeth songs?"
False dichotomy. Even death metal can be melodic (melodeath), and half of Rust In Peace was pretty melodic as well, too. So why the hell can't a speed metal album be as melodic like, say, Sad Wings of Destiny?

Meh I really lost hope with Megadeth on 13. Dave just let Chris Broderick write some insane(even though Dave probably won't be able to play it)Instrumental with mad arpeggios. I know Chris can play classical guitar, and why the **** is that not being used in Megadeth? I'm tired of hearing cheesy Megadeth songs! Whose life is it anyways sucked as much as St Anger! Chris Broderick is the key to writing a masterpiece!

(In response to kevinized100) Likely because they're a very influential rock band that has had a large impact on modern metal music. It helps that Dave keeps busy, through tours, recording, and his opinions on American politics.
Anyway, I really liked 13, an album doesn't need to be the best to be good. Looking forward to the next release.

I'm looking for a more crisp and cleaner and higher vocal pitched album this time. I'm a bit tired of the usual metal hard factor I'm looking for the smooth almost Rust in Peace styled music which I know for sure won't happen but it'd be nice. I wasn't a fan of Countdown to Extinction.